Pressure on White House to Repair Relationship with India

Pressure Building on White House to Repair
Relationship with India by Inviting
Modi

Washington, DC, April 21, 2014 — With
results of the nine phase parliamentary elections in India
due on May 16, and the likelihood as projected by media that
Mr. Narendra Modi could be the next Prime Minister of India,
many voices in the United States are counseling the White
House that it should pay more attention to India.

In case
Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister of India, one of
his first international engagements is expected to be at the
United Nations at New York – which holds a general
assembly of all its members every year in the month of
September.

According to many experts, the Obama
administration has neglected the India relationship over the
last years, and inviting the next Prime Minister of India to
the White House will be the right thing it can do to repair
and refresh the relationship. According to experts this
becomes even more important if the next PM is Modi who has
been vilified by the U.S. administration in the
past.

Reacting to reports that there is increasing
consensus among observers and the Indian American
communities that President Barack Obama must seize the
initiative and opportunity of the UN General Assembly to
invite Modi to the White House, Dr. Stephen Cohen a senior
analyst on South Asia affairs said, “It is indeed very
important that White House shrug off its low interest in
India and invite Modi to the White House if he becomes the
Prime Minister. If President Obama has any concerns he can
have a private conversation with Mr. Modi and set the future
tone of U.S. –India relations”.

Meanwhile the US India
Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a leading Indian
American organization says that many of its members are
reaching out to their elected representatives to educate
them about the importance of inviting Modi to the White
House in case Modi becomes the PM, and visits New York for
the UN meetings.

“According to various independent polls
there is a strong likelihood of Mr. Narendra Modi becoming
the next Prime Minister of India next month. President Obama
must seize this opportunity of the UN General Assembly to
invite Mr. Modi and give leadership to a relationship which
seems to be languishing presently”, said Mr. Sanjay Puri,
the chairman of USINPAC.

India’s relationship with the
U.S., and especially if Modi becomes the Prime Minister, is
poised at a critical juncture according to experts. Earlier
this month, a hearing on human rights at the U.S. Congress
drew sharp criticism from several Congressmen for its
blatant attempt to vilify Modi. Among others Rep. Tulsi
Gabbard and Rep. Eni Faleomavaega had strongly castigated
the timing of the briefing which they interpreted as an
attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of India when
the country was holding its elections.

About
USINPAC:US India Political Action
Committee—USINPAC (http://www.usinpac.com/) is the
political voice of 2.7 million Indian-Americans. As a
bipartisan organization we work to impact policy on issues
of concern to the Indian-American community in the United
States. USINPAC has enhanced the community's presence and
its issues on Capitol Hill and given Indian-Americans a
stronger voice in the legislative process in a bipartisan
manner. USINPAC's activities focus on strengthening a
grassroots network to work on issues concerning the
community.

USINPAC has been working to promote fair and
balanced policies, and create a platform to enable the entry
of Indian-Americans in the political process. Over the past
11 years, USINPAC has persistently worked to influence
policy decisions and act as a watchdog for the
Indian-American community and strong US India
relations.

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